Just be careful about the grace period stuff. If your H1B gets revoked or expires during your unemployment claim, you might have issues. Keep track of all your immigration dates and notify NYS Department of Labor immediately if anything changes with your status.

I'm also on H1B and went through unemployment filing last year in NYC. One thing to add - when you file initially, make sure you have your I-797 approval notice handy because they'll likely ask for it during the application process. Also, keep copies of your recent pay stubs showing the unemployment insurance deductions - this helps prove you've been paying into the system. The 26 weeks is correct as others mentioned, but the key is maintaining valid work authorization throughout. If you're planning to transfer to a new H1B sponsor during unemployment, notify NYS DOL when you get your new I-797 approved. The process was smoother than I expected once I had all the immigration docs ready.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now and this thread is honestly a lifesaver! Been trying to find my claim status for 4 days and was getting so frustrated. Based on everyone's suggestions here, I'm going to try the "My Online Services" → "Unemployment Insurance Online" → "Account Summary" path and check multiple sections since apparently the info can show up in different places. The timeline info is super helpful too - sounds like 7-10+ business days is normal even though the website doesn't tell you that anywhere 🤦‍♀️ Definitely going to check my Messages inbox as well since so many people found important updates there. Thanks everyone for sharing your exact navigation steps, this is way more useful than any official help docs! Will keep doing my weekly certs while I wait 🤞

I just went through this exact same nightmare a couple months ago and totally feel everyone's pain here! The NY unemployment website is seriously the worst designed site ever. What finally worked for me after trying literally everything was this specific path: Log into NY.gov → "My Online Services" → "Unemployment Insurance Online" → then you HAVE to check multiple places because they randomly scatter your info everywhere: "Account Summary," "View Payment History," "Monetary Determination Status," AND "Claim Details." Your actual status might show up in one section but not the others for absolutely no reason 🤦‍♀️ Also super important - check your "Messages" or "Correspondence" inbox because they love hiding critical updates there instead of putting them somewhere obvious! Timeline wise, mine took exactly 9 business days to appear anywhere on the site even though I was checking obsessively every single day. Keep doing those weekly certifications while you wait though - that part is crucial even if your claim is still showing pending! If you're still not finding anything after 2 weeks, definitely call them first thing Monday morning around 8am (best chance of getting through) or try that claimyr service people mentioned. The whole system is absolutely broken but hang in there, your status is buried somewhere in that confusing maze! 🤞

I've been on unemployment for about 6 months and went through the work search audit process recently. One thing that really helped me was creating a dedicated email folder just for job applications so all my confirmation emails are in one place. Also, for networking events and job fairs, I started taking a quick selfie at the event entrance with the signage visible - sounds silly but it's timestamped proof you were there. The auditor appreciated that level of detail. Don't overthink it too much though - they're mainly looking to see you're making real efforts, not trying to catch you in some technicality. Just stay consistent with whatever system you choose!

As someone who just started collecting unemployment benefits last month, this thread has been incredibly helpful! I was doing the bare minimum with my work search documentation and now I realize I need to step up my game. I've been mostly just applying through job boards without keeping proper records - definitely going to implement that Google Doc system and start taking screenshots of confirmation pages. One question though - does anyone know if using the NYS Department of Labor's job search website (jobs.labor.ny.gov) counts the same as using Indeed or LinkedIn? I want to make sure I'm diversifying my search methods properly. Also wondering if anyone has experience with whether informational interviews count toward the 3 weekly activities? Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences - this is way more useful than trying to decipher the official guidelines!

UPDATE: I went to the Career Center and they couldn't help directly but gave me a special number to call. Still couldn't get through, so I used Claimyr and got a callback within an hour. The agent confirmed my account was flagged for verification and fixed it right away. She also put a note that I should receive all my backpay within 3-5 business days. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions - especially about Claimyr and checking the Message Center. I would have never thought to look there for important notices!

This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with the exact same issue - been stuck in "pending transfer" status for 3 weeks now. Reading through all these experiences, it's clear this is a widespread problem with their new verification system. I'm going to try the Claimyr callback service tomorrow since calling directly has been impossible. It's reassuring to see that multiple people here got their issues resolved once they actually spoke to an agent. Thanks for sharing your experiences and solutions - this community support makes such a difference when dealing with these frustrating government systems!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now and this thread has been a lifesaver! I was terminated three weeks after filing a formal complaint about our company ignoring proper lockout/tagout procedures on industrial equipment. Suddenly my five years of solid performance reviews meant nothing and everything became a "performance issue." One thing I learned that might help others - when you request your personnel file, also ask for any emails or communications about you between managers or HR. In my state, they have to provide all records related to your employment. I discovered internal emails where my supervisor told HR to "document everything" starting the day after I filed my safety complaint. It was like having a smoking gun! Also, if you're dealing with anxiety about the hearing (totally normal!), I found it helpful to write out potential questions and practice answering them. Things like "When exactly did you report these safety concerns?" and "Can you describe the specific violations you observed?" Having clear, factual answers ready made me feel much more confident. The retaliation timeline is so crucial - I made a simple two-column chart with "Safety Actions I Took" on the left and "Company Response" on the right. When you see it laid out visually, the pattern becomes undeniable. You've got solid documentation and a clear timeline, which puts you in a really strong position. Hang in there - from everything I've read, cases like ours with documented safety complaints have a good success rate!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm not facing an appeal hearing myself, but I work in HR and wanted to add something from the employer side that might help people prepare. When companies contest unemployment claims, they usually rely on documentation to prove misconduct or policy violations. However, what many don't realize is that employers often struggle to produce contemporaneous documentation - meaning records that were actually created at the time of the alleged performance issues, not after the fact. If you're facing a hearing, ask specific questions about when their documentation was created. Were performance concerns noted in real-time during your employment, or only documented after you filed your safety complaints? This timing can be crucial evidence of retaliation. Also, many companies have employee handbooks that require progressive discipline (verbal warning, written warning, final warning, then termination), but they often skip these steps when they want someone gone quickly. For anyone dealing with safety retaliation specifically - keep in mind that New York Labor Law Section 741 provides strong whistleblower protections. Employers who retaliate against employees for reporting health and safety violations face serious legal consequences, and administrative law judges are well aware of these protections. The documentation and timelines everyone is creating sound excellent. Just remember during the hearing to stay calm, stick to facts, and let your evidence speak for itself. Good luck to everyone going through this process!